Liancourt Rocks

A South Korean Coastguard ship patrols the Korean-controlled islands in the Sea of Japan (East Sea) -- known as Takeshima in Japan and Dokdo in South Korea, on August 14, 2012

Other Name(s): Takeshima (Japan); Dodko (Korea)

The Players: Japan, South Korea

The Dispute:Both nations claim sovereignty over the small islands in the Sea of Japan, known as the East Sea in Korea, based on conflicting historical evidence. The tug-of-war heated up roughly six decades ago, soon after Korea became independent from Japanese colonial rule. In 1951, the Rusk documents — official diplomatic correspondence from the U.S. State Department to South Korea — stated that Japan’s claim over the islands would not be renounced in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which officially ended World War II. In response, Seoul stationed a coast-guard detachment on the islands in 1954. Since then, Tokyo has asked to take the matter to the International Court of Justice, but Korea has rejected the idea, claiming that the islands are undeniably Korean. Japan lists Takeshima as its territory in its annual defense White Paper. To protest against Japan’s territorial claims, a group of Koreans recently held a swim relay to the islands. Korean President Lee Myung-bak also visited, a move that may have bolstered his party’s nationalist credentials ahead of upcoming elections.

To all the Chinese in US,make sure after your study and return to China and make contribution to your country.At the moment, American is no friend of Chinese so far with their foreign policy and posture. Be prepare to stand up and fight either on Chinese soil or American soil.

Chinese are a bunch of ungrateful bastards. Who stood side by side against the Japanese? Who helped you throw off the shackles of the colonial powers? Do I need to say it? THE US. We were China's only friend, and they have turned into a bunch of back stabbers. If it's war so be it, you won't win, you may have a billion people, but we have many more friends then the Chinese do, that's for sure.